The biggest surprise from Nintendo about the DSi console release information was not the date, but that the colours available will be different than in Japan.

In Asia, the DSi console was released in White and Black, yet in the Americas, the DSi console will be released in Matte Blue and Matt Black.

This is an interesting colour and so we thought we’d take a deeper look at the Blue version of the DSi. Now when we say Blue, we don’t mean a dark or sea Blue. As you can see from these images, the colour is just a tad shade darker than the DS lite’s cobalt blue version.
We like the Blue, its bold yet interesting and means the DSi console will stand out against its predecessor. If your a girl and like the more traditional white or pink versions then you may need to wait a little bit longer.

So is this Matte Blue an exclusive to the USA? Were not sure and it makes us wonder what colours we will get when the DSi console goes on sale in the UK and Europe later this Spring. Nintendo certainly did not want to talk about the UK launch today so we can only hope to hear something again soon.

The Matte Blue DSi console also comes with a matching Stylus. An advantage that this bold colour stylus pen has over its rivals is the ability to be spotted when hiding down the back of the Sofa. The DSi console in Matt Blue is also selling fast on Amazon where you can pre-order the console now for $169.99 - which is the best price we have been able to find in the USA at this moment.

As the DSi console launch date approaches its easy to get swept away in the hype and forget the reason why you wanna upgrade to the new Nintendo DSi. This is especially important if you (like most of us) already own the DS lite. So we’ve decided to do a comparison of the 2 machines so that you can make an informed decision on upgrading.

New DSi cameras (1-0 DSi)

- the first thing and probably biggest upgrade to the new DS are the 2 new digital cameras. One internal and the other external, these mega pixel wonders are set to bring gaming to a whole new level. The cameras themselves are no SLRs, more similar to the one you would find on you mobile phone. Although the quality of the images are very good with the internal DSi camera shooting at up to 3 Megapixel. This is the camera most used for online games that ofter require capturing your ugly mug on screen. This is were the real fun with the DSi begins. You can easily stretch and play with your images for hours on end. There are thousands of videos currently on youtube from Japan were the DSi has been a massive hit and is currently outselling the Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3 respectively.

Bigger DSi Screens - 2-0 to DSi

- the DSi has 2 bigger screens than the DS lite. The screens on the original DS lite is 3.0 inches while on the DSi, Nintendo have increased the size to the 3.25. OK so a quarter of an inch may not be massive but it does make a difference on Games such as Mario and other Nintendo classics. Of course with a bigger screen comes bigger DSi styluses.

Smaller size and lighter - 3-0 to DSi

- again another thumbs up to the DSi and Nintendo here. They have not only made the entire console 4 grams lighter but have also made it smaller and easier to fit the DSi in to your pocket. The new console is 4mm less wider, 1mm shorter and 2.6 mm less thicker than the DS lite.

DSi console has less battery life than the DS lite - 3-1 to DSi

- the downside to the new camera and bigger screens is a slightly worse battery life than the DS lite. On the highest brightness settings the DSi lasts for 3-4 hours compared to 5-8 hours on the DS lite. While this is dissapointing its understandable - just like old mobile phones would last for 2 weeks between charges, our new handsets are also more power hungry.

DSi looks smarter than DS lite - 4-1 to DSi

- there are some big cosmetic changes with the DSi console. Gone is the DS logo on the front, instead the DSi has gone for a more sophisticated Matt finish. On the front of the console you will now only find the external camera giving the DSi a much more contemporary or grown up look. New Lights! - with new colours for your power lights. The power charge and standby lights have been switched to the top left and now include blue and yellow. The power button has also been moved to the bottom left of the internal bottom screen. Don’t worry though - you need to hold it down to turn of the console (similar to a mobile phone) so theres no way you could accidently switch it off unlike the old slider button on the DS lite which also looked like the sound slider

DSi more expensive and not Gameboy backword compatable - 4-2 to DSi

- Its a no brainer that the new DSi will cost more than the DS lite. With bigger screens, 2 cameras and new software and material it was always gonna cost more. However if you already own a DS lite it may seem expensive at first to upgrade but then if you consider that you will have this new console for another 3 years then that price appears good value for money. The other downside to the new slimmer and lighter DSi console is that it is no longer backward compatable with Game boy advance games. Thats right - the DSi doesn’t have a GBA slot which means that any old GBA games won’t work and GBA accessories such as the Guitar Hero Tour pack or Fitness pack DS games. The good news is that the DSi is backward compatable with the existing DS lite 1000+ strong game lineup. In place of the missing GBA slot, the DSi also boast portable memory storage.

New DSI games - 5-2 to the DSi console

- The whole point of a new console is new games and the DSi already has some amazing games out in Japan and in development. The great thing about the DSi console is the new DSiware download service. This has been huge in Japan were the DSi is already on sale and allows you download new games from the DSi shop. Prices vary but you can save the games on the new portable storage. We’re really REALLY looking forward to the new DSi games that involve the cameras and expect Nintendo to come up with some amazing new titles that make use of this feature.

The WINNER IS THE NINTENDO DSi - well actually the winner is you. The DSi console is expected to turn the portable gaming world on its head. If your considering upgrading to a DSi console, then stop the considering and just do it because you won’t be disappointed. The new Nintendo DSi console is the companies best portable games machine yet.

Nintendo DSi Black Console preview

The DSi console will launch in just 2 colours, so we thought we would review the black console first. Identical to its white brother/sister, the DSi Black Console comes with 2 matching black DSi stylus pens. Over the last 2 years, the black version of its procedure (DS Lite) has become popular with more traditional gamers and this is likely to be the same with the DSi.

The other difference we expect to see with the black version of the DSi is the games that will be bundled with the console. Its likely (although not politically correct) that the retailers will bundle more tradionally “boy” games with the Black DSi Console. These may include football (soccer) games such as Fifa 09, Sonic (adventure) or Grand theft auto for the DSi.

Will the price for the Black DSi console be more expensive than the white version?

There is unlikely to be any price difference between the white version of the DSi and the console. However if one of the versions sells out first than retailers may increase the price of the other console. It is likely thay Nintendo will continue to sell the Black version of the DSi console for the lifetime of the console including if (and when) other colours of the Console are released.